Page 2 of Midnight Escape

As he shoved the belts, trapping in his shoulders, aside, he yanked off his headset, noted their location, and took a quick glance to ensure his passenger was exiting the aircraft. Of course, Wayne stayed to watch him perform the proper emergency shutdown procedures. At least he’d already rid himself of the harness. However, as the pilot-in-command, it was Danny’s responsibility to see to his passenger’s safety.

“Go,” he demanded, as he grasped the door handle and pushed it open with a force that almost sent it crashing back into him. Although probably unnecessary, Danny wanted Wayne to evacuate in case their problem was more severe than thought to be and the bird caught fire.

He and Wayne hastily exited the aircraft, and meeting a safe distance away, eyed the front of the helo.

After confirming Wayne didn’t require medical attention, Danny continued following procedure, knowing not only that Wayne still evaluated him, but because his responsibility hadn’t ended. After pulling his phone from his flight-suit pocket, he removed his flight gloves and called base operations. In a few moments, he’d relayed the nature of their emergency, souls on board, and their location via lat/long. After a confirmation of their response, he ended the call and expelled a breath of relief.

As the tense muscles in his shoulders eased, tremors overtook his body, and he didn’t care what Wayne thought of it. He fought it, but he couldn’t control the delayed terrifying reaction within him. He could’ve died. Strange how he’d never reacted this way when he’d been nearly killed in action with his employer Hamilton Investigation and Security, better known as HIS.

He hoped he’d be checked off on this procedure and not have to redo the actions in simulation. He never wanted to be a part of this nightmare again with the trapped feeling, knowing life or death settled with him, but he couldn’t fight his way out. There’d been too little time while having too much time to think about life. While his mind had focused on landing the bird safely, in the back of his thoughts was what was important to him. He’d regret not having a family.

“Ten seconds.”

Danny’s mind had a tough time wrapping itself around Wayne’s words. Ten seconds from the initial sound signaling a problem to setting them down on the ground? Impossible. Although he hadn’t kept count, it had to have been longer. Or had it? Maybe that was just how it’d felt since so much rushed through his brain at mind-warping speed. If he was right—and the FAA examiner was always right—it’d been the longest ten seconds of Danny’s life.

“You expertly handled the situation. And a nearly soft landing to boot. I never felt the need to take control.”

Danny didn’t know how the nearly soft landing happened—although that’d been his hope. The need to land before more trouble occurred had been his only requirement.

Thinking back, Danny’s heart fell at his failure in his emergency procedures. “The transponder,” he croaked. “I didn’t—” He hadn’t changed his transponder to the emergency code of 7700, so the tower would see them on radar and be prepared for an emergency landing. Even without being under tower control, their aircraft—a small blip on the screen—would flash to notify the controller. Although at their low altitude, it’d be iffy if the radar picked them up. Of course, he also didn’t reach out to them via radio on VHF Guard, or 121.5 MHz, to declare an emergency and receive priority control.

Shit!He wanted to shout. After the sweat and terror—yes, inside suppressed terror had churned—he’d fail the examination anyway for not doing either.

“You didn’t have time for either. If you had, we wouldn’t have landed safely.” Wayne paused. “Or, at all.”

“But—” He knew Wayne was right, but he’d not completed the proper procedures.

“Even I didn’t have time. My focus had to be on whether I had to jump in before it was too late. I couldn’t break away either or it might’ve been too late to react.” Wayne shrugged. “Besides, as low as we were, they probably wouldn’t have seen us on radar.”

Well, they were on the ground. No need for the FAA to send out a search party. He’d notified base operations, so that should count as a point in his favor on the exam.

They’d survived.He couldn’t think it enough. Like in the movies, he’d almost touched all over his body to ensure he remained in one piece. Sanity prevailed on that one since they hadn’t wrecked.

Standing and staring blankly at the helicopter, Danny answered Wayne’s questions about his actions and inactions during the flight. Why he took them? Why he didn’t?

Neither had grabbed their flight bags, but Wayne had recorded their pre- and post-flight conversations to transcribe later. He assured Danny it’d be easier for the interviews and paperwork that’d have to be completed. Danny hated paperwork. Hated it with a passion.

We survived!broke into all thoughts again, bringing his mind back to the moment. Even wearing his aviators, the glint of the sun off the windshield of the bird that he’d landed without power, made him thankful the weather had been in their favor.

While he’d glanced at the crop, it hadn’t registered, so he checked again to see what he’d have to replace. He nearly laughed. Being former DEA, he should’ve noticed immediately the type of plant. Then his body went on alert.Shit.“Wayne?” He slowly drew out the name and didn’t really regard it as a question.

“I see.”

Circling around, Danny ensured the field was clear around them with no visible structure or person in sight. “You call the sheriff. I’ve got another call to make.”

Not arguing that Wayne should’ve been giving the orders, they both turned to their phones. Wayne dialed 911 while Danny hit speed dial.

Stone—Alpha team’s new computer support—answered Danny’s call before the first ring ended. “I was just about to check on you. Your name popped up on an aircraft landing.”

Danny chuckled, despite the seriousness of his situation. A HIS program captured an agent’s name when it popped into any emergency, hospital, or police report. At first, Danny hated the thought of being tracked, but now he appreciated it. If he hadn’t been in a position to phone in, someone would’ve arrived to check on him. Family.

“I landed safely. My problem is we landed in the middle of a pot field and”—he squinted at spots afar, and his gut clenched— “I see a welcoming party coming our way.”

Chapter Two

“Number?” Stone quickly responded.

Danny squinted harder to make out the number of dots in the distance as his mind raced on how to keep himself and Wayne safe, if this party turned into a threat. “One”—a ding sounded in his ear— “maybe two.” Pulling the phone away, he glanced quickly at the screen and breathed a short sigh of relief that someone from the teams would respond to the emergency alert that Stone had just sent. Not knowing anyone’s ETA, he had to plan to survive and protect his examiner.Maybe, his mind hoped,they aren’t armed. He silently scoffed at that idea.

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